Low voltage warning device



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M w f 3,533,094 LOW VOLTAGE WARNING DEVICE Ralph W. Brelje, RR. 2, Box 92, Waterloo, Ill. 62298 Filed Oct. 11, 1968, Ser. No. 766,744 Int. Cl. G08b 21/00 US. Cl. 340-248 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A warning device for maintaining surveillance over an electric power source and including a signal which is placed across a battery through a switch and a relay when the relay is de-energized due to a failure of power in the mains. The signal also may be placed across the battery through another switch and the relay when the relay is energized through restoration of the power to the mains.

This invention relates in general to warning devices and more particularly to a warning device for maintaining surveillance over an electric power source.

In many households, particularly those in rural areas, the failure of electric power presents a serious crisis which requires immediate remedial action. For example, poultry farmers almost universally rely on electrically heated incubators to raise young chicks. Similarly, newborn pigs are often placed in electrically heated brooders to prevent their mothers from crushing them. Once the power to the farm fails, and this most often occurs during the hours of darkness, it is imperative that such farmers start auxiliary generators or make other arrangements fo supplying heat to such equipment.

Similarly, in the case of hospitals, convalescent and nursing homes, and even those charged with the care of invalids, many life-sustaining devices such as iron lungs depend on an uninterrupted source of electric power. Corr sequently, in such instances it is critical to maintain surveillance over the electric power source so that remedial action can be initiated immediately should a power failure occur.

Indeed, even the urban homeowner should be altered to power failures so that he will not rely on an electric alarm and thereby miss scheduled commitments. Moreover, many homeowners once the power has failed prefer to detach heavy appliances from the mains to prevent the large surge of current which often accompanies power restoration from burning out those appliances.

Inasmuch as many homes have fuse boxes accessible from the exterior of the house, prowlers often shut the household power off before attempting burglaries. Accordingly, a warning signalling a power failure could well alert the homeowner to the devious activities of a prowler.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a warning device which furnishes an audio and a visual alarm when the electric power supplied to the mains has failed. Another object is to provide a warning device of the type stated which indicates when power is restored. A further object is to provide a warning device capable of furnishing emergency lighting during electric power failures. Still another object is to provide a warning device of the type stated which is attractive in appearance, rugged and compact in construction, and economical to manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

The present invention is embodied in a warning device including a signal which is placed across a battery through a conductor and through a switch and a relay associated with the conductor when the relay is deenergized. The device also includes a second conductor and switch asso- States Patent ICC ciated with the relay and signal for placing the signal across the battery when the relay is energized so as to indicate when the power has been restored.

The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations ofI parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification and wherein like numerals and letters refer to like parts wherever they occur:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a warning device constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram for the electric circuit forming part of the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 2 designates a Warning device including a cabinet 4 having a light 6, a main control switch 8, and a restoration alarm switch 10 mounted in the walls of it. A conventional two wire electric power cord 12 leads from the cabinet 4, and at its free end is provided with a conventional plug 14 of the type adapted for insertion into conventional household wall receptacles.

Internally the cabinet is furtherI provided with a relay 16, a bell 17, and a 6-volt battery 18, all wired into a circuit with the light 6, control switch 8 and restoration alarm switch 10 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. More particularly, the relay 16 includes a coil 20 connected across the wires of the cord 12 and a blade 22 shiftable between contacts 24 and 26. The blade 22 is spring biased toward the contact 24, but when the coil 20 is energized by inserting the plug 14 into a receptacle, the blade 22 is drawn toward the coil 20 and into engage ment with the contact 26. One terminal of the battery 18 is connected to the blade 22 through a Wire 27. The opposite terminal of the battery 18 is connected by means of a line 28 to one of the terminals of both the bell 17 and the light 6.

The control switch 8 is of the three-way variety and includes a shiftable element 30 which moves between a light-bell position, an off position, and a bell only position. In the light-bell position the element 30 simultaneously engages a pair of contacts 32 and 34 which are connected through wires 36 and 38 to the opposite terminals of the bell 17 and the light 6, respectively. In the olf position the element 30 engages a detent 40 which is not connected to any other component of the warning device 2, and in the light only position the element 30 engages a contact 42 which is connected to the wire 38 through a wire 44. The element 30, in turn, is electrically connected to the contact 24 of the relay 16 by means of a conductor 46. Finally, the restoration alarm switch 10 is interposed in a conductor 48 connected between the contact 26 of the relay 22 and the wire 36.

In use, the control switch 8 is placed in its light-bell position and the restoration alarm switch 10 in its open position. Thereafter, the plug 14 is inserted into any conventional receptacle in the home or building over which electric power surveillance is desired, and this energizes the coil 20 of the relay 16, drawing the blade 22 against the contact 26. Inasmuch as the circuit from the battery 18 to the bell 17 and the light `6 is interrupted at the relay 16 as well as at the open switch 10, neither the bell 17 nor the light 6 will be energized `by the battery 18.

However, when the power in the mains fails, the coil 20 will be de-energized and the spring loaded blade 22 will be thrown out away from the contact 26 and against the contact 24. When this occurs, both the bell 17 and the light 6 will be placed across the battery' 18. Tracing the circuit, the current will flow from the battery 18 through the line 27, blade 22 and the conductor 46 to the shiftable element 30 of the control switch 8 where it will enter the wires 36 and 38 through the contacts 32 and 34. The current in the wires 36 and 38 passes through the bell 17 and the light 6, respectively, energizing the same, and returns to the battery 18 through the line 28.

Upon being alerted, the user of the device 2 should move the control switch 8 to its off position, or if the power failure occurs at night, it is desirable to move the switch 8 to its light only position. In the latter case, the current will flow from the shiftable element 30 and into the wires 44 and 38 only and accordingly, will energize the light `6 but not the bell 17. The light 6 can `be used to provide temporary illumination until other illumination can be obtained for the duration of the power failure.

When such illumination is secured, the shiftable element 30 of the switch 8 is moved to the oit position and the restoration alarm switch 10 is closed. Once the power is restored, the blade 22 of the relay 16 will be pulled back against the contact 26 by the coil 20 and the bell 17 will be placed across the battery 18 signalling the restoration of the power. At this time, the homeowner can shut down his temporary sources of power and illumination and can again plug in any major applicances he may have disconnected in order to isolate them from a possible current surge. More specifically, when the power is restored, the current `will ow from the battery 18 through the line 27, blade '22 and conductor 48 wherein it passes through the closed restoration alarm switch 10. From the conductor 48 the current enters the wire 36 and after passing through the bell 17 returns to the battery 18 through the line 28.

After being alerted `by the ringing bell 17 that the power has been restored, the user returns the restoration alarm switch 10 to its open position and the control switch 8 to its light-bell position. The warning device is then Set to signal another power failure.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A warning device for maintaining surveillance over an electric power source; said device comprising a relay switch having a coil connected across the electric power source and a spring biased contactor which moves between rst and second contacts; the contactor being spring biased toward the first contact and held against the second contact by the coil when the coil is energized; a battery connected to the contactor, a switch connetced with the first contact; an audio alarm connected between the switch and battery; a visual alarm connected between the switch and battery; the switch being adapted at the option of the user to place both the audio and visual alarms in electrical contact with the irst contact, to place only the visual alarm in electrical contact with the first contact, or to place neither the audio nor visual alarm in electrical contact with the irst contact; and a second switch connected between only one of the alarms and the second contact for placing that alarm across the battery when power is restored.

2. A warning device according to claim 1 wherein the relay switch is connected to the power source through a cord and a plug.

3. A warning device according to claim 1 wherein the audio alarm is a bell.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,384,886 5/1968 Serra 340-253 THOMAS B. HABECKER, IPrimary Examiner D. MYER, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 3A0-*371, 327 

